Oscar kropff



(No Model.)

- 0.. KROPFF.

Ice Machine.

No. 235,950. Pgt'ented De'c .'28, 1880.

WITNESSES: l 1 INVENTO ATTORNEY N. PETERS, PHOTO-UTHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. 0 C.

Miran STATES OSCAR KROPFF, OF NORDHAUSEN-ON-THE-HARZ, GERMANY.

ICE-MACHINE.

SPEGIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 235,950, dated December 28, 1880. Application filed September 8, 1880 (No model.) Patented in England July 5. 1879, in Germany February 25, 1880.

To all whom it may concern:

through a connecting-pipe, h, to the condenser Be it known that I, OSCAR KROPFF, of D. The condenser is made of annular and N ordhausen-on-the-Harz, in the Empire of Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in lee-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This .invention has reference to a machine for producing ice on board of ships or in hotels, or for domestic purposes generally; and it consists of a steam-jacketed ammonia boiler or generator, which is connected by an upright trunk and coupling with an annular condenser, which is partly inserted into a sheetmetal freezingvessel supported on a horizontally-movable bracket of the trunk, for the purpose of removing the freezing can or vessel from the condenser. The pipe connecting the condenser to the trunk of the generator is swiveled thereto, so as to admit the lifting of the condenser for returning the liquid ammonia to the boiler.

In the accompanying drawings, which fully illustrate my invention, Figure 1 represents a vertical central section of my improved ice machine for ship, hotel, and domestic use; and Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the same on line 00 m, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A in the drawings represents a cylindrical ammonia boiler of generator, which is'charged with an aqueous solution of ammonia. This boiler or generator A is provided with a steamjacket, 13, the steam-space of which is divided by a helical partition, a, so as to form a channel into which the steam enters, near the upper edge of the jacket, through a pipe, I), and

. descends in the helical channel by passing around the sides and along the bottom of the boiler, leaving the same through the stop-cock d, as shown in Fig. 1.

A pipe, 6, extends from the top of the boiler A downward, and serves for suspending a thermometer, by which the temperature is observed and also indicated when the ammoniacal vapors have been expelled from the solution in the boiler.

A trunk, 0, extends from the top of the boiler in upward direction, and is provided. with a valve, f, and a coupling, g, at the top of the same, from which the vapors pass slightly-tapering shape, and is suspended by the connecting-pipe h in a surrounding sheetmetal can or vessel, E, to which water is applied for cooling from a pipe, z', above.

This freezing can or vessel E is supported on a horizontal bracketplate, E, which is supported by a ring-shaped collar, m, on a shoulder, an, of the trunk G, and adapted to be thrown sidewise, as shown in Fig. 2, so that the freezing can or vessel E may be taken down for removing the ice.

The connecting-pipe h is swiveled, by the coupling g, to the trunk C, so that the condenser I) may be swung in upward direction through an angle of about ninety degrees for the purpose of returning any liquid ammonia still contained therein through the coupling 9 to the boiler, the ammonia vapors passing through a goose-neck tube, 02, into the lower part of the boiler for reabsorption.

The machine is operated as follows: The ammonia vapors which are set free by the heat of the steam in the generator escape through the valve f and coupling 9 into the condenser E, when the heat is abstracted by coolthereto by the pipe i. The heated water is conducted oft through the overflow-pipe i at the upper end of the vessel E. When all, or nearly all, the ammoniacal vapors have been carried ofi' and condensed, which may be readily observed on the thermometer suspendedin tube 0, the supply ot'steam is stopped and cooling-water admitted through the stopcock d at the lower part of the boiler A. The cooling-water ascends" or Winds itself up in the helical channel of the steam-jacket B, thereby cooling the ammonia-boiler and the water contained therein, which has little or no vapors left in it. By cooling the water it regains its power of absorption, and becomes lug-water, which is continuously supplied capable of reabsorbing the vapors which are 5 removing the ice formed thereby the supply of cooling-water to the generator is stopped and a small quantity of steam admitted through the pipe I), by which the condenser is somewhat warmed and the ice released. The bracketplate E is now carried from its surface side- "wise, and the freezing-vessel removed and the ice taken out of the latter. Before repeating the process of icemaking the condenser is carried in upward direction, so that all liquid ammonia is returned into the boiler, as before described. The water of condensation is let off through the stop-cock d, and the water used for cooling the ammonia-boiler through the pipe 12 near the upper edge of the boiler.

When used on board of the vessel the ma chine is firmly attached to the floor by screws, in order to prevent its being upset by the rolling or pitching of the vessel.

When the connections of the machine with the steam-boiler and the sources of water are properly made, the ice is produced by the alternatin g evaporation and condensation of the ammoniacal vapors and the reabsorption of the same by the cold liquid in the boiler, it forming thus a handy and convenient machine for ships, hotel and domestic purposes.

I am aware that helical channels or pipes at the inside or outside of vessels, for heating liquids contained therein, are well known, and I lay, therefore, no claim, broadly, to the same.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In an absorption ice-machine, an ammonia generator or boiler, A, having an exterior jacket, B, with an intermediate helical channel, a, a steam-supply pipe b, and a water-discharge pipe, I), at the upper part, and a stop-cock, d, at the bottom part, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In an absorption ice-machine, the combination of a jacketed ammonia-boiler having a top extension or trunk provided with an exit-valve and coupling, with a condenser con neeted thereto and adapted to be swung through an angle of ninety degrees, substantially as described.

3. In an absorption ice-machine, the combination of the condenser with a surrounding freezing can or vessel and with a supporting bracket-plate which is capable of horizontal motion to remove the freezing-vessel and ice,

substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

I11 testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of two witnesses, this 27th day of July, 1880.

OSCAR KROPFF. Witnesses MORITZ WEcI-IsUNe, FRIEDRICH APEL. 

